Interventions to Improve Safer Sleep Practices in Families With Children Considered to Be at Increased Risk for Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Advice to families to follow infant care practices known to reduce the risks of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) has led to a reduction in deaths across the world. This reduction has slowed in the last decade with most deaths now occurring in families experiencing social and economic deprivation. A systematic review of the literature was commissioned by the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel in England. The review covered three areas: interventions to improve engagement with support services, parental decision-making for the infant sleep environment, and interventions to improve safer sleep practices in families with infants considered to be at risk of SUDI.Aim: To describe the safer sleep interventions tested with families with infants at risk of SUDI and investigate what this literature can tell us about what works to reduce risk and embed safer sleep practices in this group.Methods: Eight online databases were systematically searched in December 2019. Intervention studies that targeted families with infants (0–1 year) at increased risk of SUDI were included. Studies were limited to those from Western Europe, North America or Australasia, published in the last 15 years. The Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs was applied to assess quality. Data from included studies were extracted for narrative synthesis, including mode of delivery using Michie et al.'s Mode of Delivery Taxonomy.Results: The wider review returned 3,367 papers, with 23 intervention papers. Five types of intervention were identified: (1) infant sleep space and safer sleep education programs, (2) intensive or targeted home visiting services, (3) peer educators/ambassadors, (4) health education/raising awareness interventions, (5) targeted health education messages using digital media.Conclusion: Influencing behavior in families with infants at risk of SUDI has traditionally focused on “getting messages across,” with interventions predominantly using education and awareness raising mechanisms. This review found evidence of interventions moving from “information giving” to “information exchange” models using personalized, longer term relationship-building models. This shift may represent an improvement in how safer sleep advice is implemented in families with infants at risk, but more robust evidence of effectiveness is required.Systematic Review Registration:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/901091/DfE_Death_in_infancy_review.pdf, identifier: CRD42020165302.

A Behaviour Change Analysis of Safer Sleep Interventions for Infants at Risk of Sudden and Unexpected Death

“…The findings of the original review used to identify interventions concluded that such interventions were moving from ‘information giving’ towards ‘information exchange’ (Ellis et al, 2022). The findings of the current study have provided further insight into this shift, in terms of the specific techniques that are being used to facilitate this change.…”

“…We conducted a component analysis of 21 safer sleep interventions for families with infants at risk of SUDI examined in a recent systematic review by Ellis et al (2022). The primary studies used various definitions of 'at risk', thus there was variation in the populations who received the safer sleep interventions.…”

Safety Baby Shower Intervention Improves Safe Sleep Knowledge and Self-Efficacy among Expectant Teens

“…While these programs are effective, their intensive nature means that they are also very costly. A recent systematic review of the literature emphasized the heterogeneity of the existing evidence, need for theoretically grounded models, and called for additional research ( Ellis et al, 2021 ).…”

Síndrome da morte súbita do lactente: Uma revisão da literatura

“…Sabe-se que o aconselhamento familiar a respeito das medidas de sono seguro levou a uma redução dos riscos de Síndrome da Morte Súbita do Lactente e do número de mortes em todo o mundo (Ellis et al, 2022). Sendo assim, é de extrema importância que os profissionais de saúde orientem bem as famílias das crianças menores de 1 ano, principalmente nos primeiros meses de vida do bebê, para que as medidas de prevenção sejam implementadas e haja redução da incidência da SMSL.…”